A chill runs the length of May Bell's spine. She's almost too afraid to say anything at all but somehow she finds the courage. "Who," she begins as she summons up the nerve and takes a swallow. "Who are you?!"
There's no response.
May Bell stands stock still. She's wondering what she should do.
"May Bell!" Liza suddenly responds from the darkness. "Help me!"
The dying of the echo brings with it an unnerving realization.
May Bell turns her eyes upon the door and knows that is where she must go. Trepidation laces her actions as she approaches the door and lays her hand upon the knob. Slowly, she twists and hears the audible click of the latch releasing. She pulls it open, behind which is nothing but darkness.
The little girl is scared of what lies before her. It is not what she sees, but what she feels in the emptiness. It's cold, like opening a freezer on a freezing day. She'd give anything to close the door and return to her bed, but she knows that is impossible. Her friend is in danger, that much she knows and she must do something about it, no matter how scared she is.
Summoning all the reserves of courage she has available, she steps into the darkness with the same trepidation as before that now fuels her hesitation. The only thing that helps in this moment of disquiet, when there isn't even wind to blow, is that whatever is happening, whatever she is meant to confront, is all in the name of saving her friend, of liberating Liza from an unknown threat.
The intrepid explorer trudges forward through the dark and the cold without knowing where she is going or how long it will take to get there. She is daunted to say the least and can feel the tendrils of failure wrapping around her person, stifling her movements. She is forced to shake it off keep moving forward.
Hope springs eternal within her in the form of a light off in the distance. Now, she has a an immediate goal that can be distinguished from the rest of the bleak environment. She walks toward it with renewed energy and is surprised to find that the closer she gets to it the more it seems to grow.
May Bell recognizes the table and setting for her elaborate tea party, but it is so much larger than it had been. So large in fact that she is but a miniscule bug in comparison. Unfortunately, there is nothing else in the immediate vicinity making it impossible to determine if she has shrunk or if the table grew.
She stares up as far as she can, but the table stands so high that it's dizzying even to just contemplate. She approaches the leg and notes that there is a spiral that runs around it with jagged edges that could so easily catch and tear anything that should have the misfortune of being caught by it.
She surveys the rest of the area while hoping she doesn't have to climb when the ground starts to fall away beneath her feet. She has no choice but to rely on the savage architecture that proves more disparaging than inviting. She crawls within the catching claws of the metal architecture just as the last of the Earth falls away.
The tiny adventurer stands upon the foot of the table leg as she gazes into the absence of a walkable platform, leaving the table hanging magically in the air. There is no other choice left to her at this time, if she wants to progress, and she very much feels that she has to, then she needs to climb.
It's exceedingly difficult, climbing the spiral while avoiding the sharp bits that seem as though they can jump out at her. More than once she snags her clothing and has to stop so she can free herself before carrying on without ripping her jammies. Still, she's able to ascend all the way to the topmost layer.
May Bell reaches the top and has to take a moment to rest herself from the arduous climb. Directly ahead she spies the next obstacle to overcome. Toward the center of the table she can see all manner of tea things, which are black and twisted, jumping all around, slamming against the surface before immediately leaping into the air again.
Once rested, the overwhelmed child decides to avoid these hazardous, oversized dishes entirely by walking around them instead of through. Unfortunately, the glass table cracks as soon as she steps off the obvious path, but remains sound beneath the implements slamming on top of it. Magic can be the only explanation.
She does all she can to find another way, but the fragile glass beneath her feet will not support her weight and funnels her into the area of immediate danger. She approaches it with all the caution she has at her disposal while dreading the possibility of being squished beneath the heavy thudding implements.
May Bell takes a deep breath, before speedily making her way into the throng. It's easy avoiding the first few objects as they're bulky, twisted forms make it difficult for them to be exact. But no sooner has she entered the fray, then she's accosted by a new threat. It's the pixies from her tea party. Only they're dark and hideous looking.
They buzz about just above her head and swoop every so often to keep her on her toes. Now is the task made nearly impossible, but she has no choice. It's just as treacherous to go back as it is to go forward. She weaves between crashing saucers and a teapot, while trying to stay low enough to avoid aerial support.
The evil fairies continue to swoop low and intensify their dark light to the point where they become blinding. Trial and error is the only thing that see her through the battle, that and a little luck, while she dashes the best she can to the other side. Where she finds more of the same waiting for her, but having learned her lesson from before, keeps to the main path.
May Bell makes it to the other side at last and looks out into the ever expanding void of utter blackness. She really doesn't want to proceed any further without knowing what lies ahead, but she has little choice. She looks down and finds a twisting spiral circling the second leg with jagged edges to match.
What's more if she thought it was difficult to ascend so treacherous a pathway, which she did, descending the same was doubly difficult. Slowly, carefully, she creeps down, until she touches the ground and breathes a sigh of relief. She thales a moment to collect herself as well as her thoughts.
Having no other choice, May Bell then carries on into the uncertain darkness for another long trek into the unknown. She is far along when it peels away in the presence of a glowing orb which rises into the sky. It illuminates the path before her, which is accompanied on both sides by sheer drop offs.
She will have to stick to the middle and be doubly careful not to stray as she is not certain she would survive a spill in this particular void. And if this hazard weren't enough, the orb that provides the light also radiates heat and very soon the temperature is unbearably high and still rising.
May Bell is starting to sweat as she continues on the way while gazing down the path and finds a shadow covering it. Her mind quickly puts the puzzle together and assesses that this dark spot is the only place that can possibly save her from the intense inferno. She hurries as fast as she can while the sphere turns that much fiercer and even begins to chase her.
She sprints as fast as her legs wil carry her and in the midst of this strenuous exercise she turns her head and catches sight of a most disturbing visual. It nearly takes the breath from her body and even though she looked for only a long moment the image is burned upon her brain and she cannot unsee it.
Within her mind's eye she sees children, many of them, all emaciated and shackled at the wrist with a long chain fixed to the top of a tall pole. They do all they can to move forward, but it's evident that they can hardly do so. All the same, they keep on for some unknowable reason and even when they trip and fall, they rise to carry on.
The sight is not easy for the brave girl to see, or more importantly unsee, but she can't focus on that. She has to keep moving else the sun is going to broil her and keeping the image of the horror in her mind is like a weight that threatens to drag her down. As such, she expels it the best she can, but the shadow of it will linger on.
May Bell reaches the shade before the sun can do any lasting damage and she huddles beneath it as she fights to recover her breath. She is soaked with sweat and it leaves a sticky feeling, but it also cools her body in the darkness, so she welcomes it. She takes the time to just breathe when she becomes curious about what it is that shades her so.
She looks up to find the massive skull of a giant serpent directly above her and it is attached to a long serpentine skeleton. It enshrouds the rest of the path, protecting it from the touch of the malevolent sphere that looms above. This allows the girl to proceed without incident and make it across the twisting pathway.
Just ahead, in the near distance, she spies a dark, twisted, menacing castle. It lays at the end of the of the skeletal remains as though the macabre remains were a kind of long awning. She's grateful for the protection it provides even as it gives her an ill feeling. She stomachs it the best she can and carries on.
The way is arduous, but managalble and she is soon upon the final stretch that leads into the fortified structure. She stands before the monolithic doors which feel smaller than they should be, grabs one of the hoops and pulls aprat the twin obstacle. It moves with surprising ease and stays open as she passes through, but slams shut once she has.
The interior is dark with only enough light to see by, revealing a square entry and a set of stairs that lead further down. There is a cool from the chill wind that seeps through the cracks and crevices, creating an eerie howling. Though it is a large fortress there's only a single, narrow corridor to permit advancement.
Slowly, May Bell proceeds further into the unknown, uncertain if she is even headed in the right direction. The first thing she comes upon is a simple metal door and upon opening it she finds a rectangular room. There's a narrow walkway that rings the edges and is the only means of continuing on to the next door which is just visible from her place thanks to the torches on the wall.
In the middle of the oblong room, taking up most of the space, lies a pool of dark water. The little girl doesn't like the look of the foreboding fluid in front of her, so she opts to slink her way around the short platform. And no sooner has she taken this path, then the water begins to churn and a fish tail slaps the surface.
May Bell is unnerved by the sudden violence againt the body of liquid, but presses on all the same while keeping her eyes open. It is due to this vigilance that she takes sight of something swimming in the water. All at once a terrible creature springs out of the depths and toward her. It narrowly misses and the little girl doubles her efforts while being careful not to fall in.
Just as she makes it to the other side, the thing in the water launches itself again with swiping claws. Acting completely on instinct, the child is able to widen the gap between her soft flesh and the raking claw by sidling to the side. It is only now with the creature lying on dry ground that she is able to get a good look at it.
It's a terrible looking fish-human hybrid with a filthy, fish tail, a terrible face graced with terrible fangs that bite and snap as it fights to push itself forward while swiping with razor sharp claws. The head of which is framed by slimy hair which sticks in a disgusting manner to the sides of her head and bosom.
She is a terrifying opponent and had she the means to drag herself forward would likely catch her prey, but she is too awkward outside of the water and so returns. It swims about in lazy circles as it works to breathe having expended most of its oxygen and energy on the single attack.
May Bell counts her blessings before carrying on, but not without keeping a suspicious eye to the collected liquid she's leaving behind. She places her hand upon the latch and takes one, last look behind her. All she can see is the evil mermaid staring at her like a crocodile would after it has decided not to pursue. The child opens the door and slips away.
The next room she comes upon is circular and tall with no means to ascend. Most importantly though, it possesses no pools of water, which is a relief. Instead, it's furnished with a level dirt floor and a single, twisted, gnarled, tree growing in the middle. And behind which is the doorway leading on.
The intrepid explorer of dreams, walks into the room and keeps a careful eye on the large, mangled pillar as she circles it. Suddenly, the plant springs to life, just as she had anticipated. The strange, wooden humanoid gives chase, but is somewhat hindered by its odd shape. Still, it's fast and the girl has to be faster, to stay one step ahead.
The child leads the chase back where she came, back to the pool in the previous room. She stops just on the edge of the water and turns her back to the creature she knows is watching beneath the waves. She's hoping that the fish creature will find the bait too enticing to pass up, but she needs to time it just right.
With an eye on the approaching threat and another scouring the waves, she prepares to enact her plan. She stands just inside the doorframe as the dryad scrambles into a dash directed toward her while at the same time the mermaid springs from the water. She dives to the side and from this safe place she watches the brief exchange unfold.
The tree creature throws its entire weight into its attack, while the aquatic monstrosity swipes with its terrible claw, just as it had done before. The razor sharp nails cut through the wooden body as though it were made of paper. All the while, the weight of the larger threat crashes into that of the smaller and both creatures fall under the waves.
May Bell decides not to wait around and hurries into the next room where she throws the door close and hurries to the next one. She pulls on it and it the barrier gives, allowing her to slip inside and slams it shut. She places her weight against it and takes the time to just breathe as she gazes upon the next obstacle.
She finds herself in another rectangular room much like the one where she encountered the evil mermaid, complete with a shallow pit in the middle. The massive depression is easily identified to be too deep for her to jump out of should she fall in and it's so wide that it stretches across the room, with only a narrow walkway to stay above it.
She can hear something prowling about within the recess and it gives her the willies. All the same, she edges up to lip of said pitfall and can see a pair of glowing eyes with the light flashing off of a solid exoskeleton. Using the context clues, as well as what she's encountered so far, she identifies it as the manticore, which does nothing to ease her mind.
She's safe where she is, but the fear lies not with what is happening, but what could be. With a tremendous flex of her willpower, she edges along the pit while squeezing her body against the wall, trying like mad to meld with it. Even as she knows she is safe from harm, she still fears that the monster may find a means to breach the gulf between them.
She presses on the best she can as there's nothing else for her to do. She can't attack the monster nor does any smart trap come to mind. The only thing she can do is persevere, which pays off when she's at the other end. She pushes her back against the door, finds the latch, releases it, pulls open the door and slips inside before closing it sharply.